Emma Raducanu branded ‘really dangerous’ as WTA star shares Brit’s huge advantage
Emma Raducanu has been told she can still be “really dangerous” at the biggest tournaments. The Brit has had a stop-start career ever since winning the US Open as a qualifier in 2021. But former world No. 9 Andrea Petkovic still believes that Raducanu has a massive advantage over her rivals at the Grand Slams.
Raducanu will continue her comeback this weekend at Britain’s Billie Jean King Cup tie against France. It will be her first tournament since she suffered a minor setback last month, pulling out of the Miami Open as a precaution.
The 21-year-old is currently sitting at No. 302 in the world after having three surgeries in 2023 which sidelined her for eight months and could end up playing a reserve role in Britain’s team this weekend before heading to the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart. Although her ranking has taken a tumble, retired star Petkovic still thinks Raducanu has an advantage on the biggest stage.
Explaining why the Brit had every reason to be confident, the German told Eurosport: “First and foremost: her youth. If I was as young as she is, I would still believe I could do anything.” More importantly, Petkovic believes that Raducanu’s US Open-winning experience will help her if she goes deep at any tournament.
“She has the advantage that she won’t be afraid of winning a tournament if she gets to the second week of a Grand Slam event or goes far in a competition again. Simply because she has already done it once at the US Open,” the seven-time title winner continued.
“That’s a huge mental advantage that can never be taken away from her again. This title just came a little too quickly. She won more matches in New York than she had previously played on the WTA Tour.”
Since winning the US Open as a qualifier, Raducanu has not been beyond the second round at any Major tournament. But Petkovic is backing the former world No. 10 to be dangerous as soon as she gets a couple of wins under her belt.
